Pulse relay apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pulse relay apparatus. Actuating means are provided for relaying a pulse, generated by activation or de-activation of a first circuit, to a second circuit, to generate a responsive signal by activating or de-activating a switch in the second circuit, and switch engaging means are provided to engate the switch in the second circuit to enable successive on-off-on-off switching, for actuating an alarm system from any one of a number of locations.

United States Patent [191 Guthart 1 3,748,610 1451 July 24, 1973 PULSE RELAY APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Leo A. Guthart, Old Westbury, N.Y.

[73] Assignee: Alarm Dvice Manufacturing Company, Syosset, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Feb. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 223,919

[52] US. Cl. 335/190, 200/153 .1 [51] Int. Cl. 1101!! 3/28 [58] Field of Search 335/188, 190;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,908,781 10/1959 Brunicardi'. 200/153 J 2,179,252 11/1939 Douglas 200/153 J 2,466,292 4/1949 Wolf 335/190 Primary Examiner-Harold Broome Attorney-Harry Sommers et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A pulse relay apparatus. Actuating means are provided for relaying a pulse, generated by activation or deactivation of a first circuit, to a second circuit, to generate a responsive signal by activating or de-activating a switch in the second circuit, and switch engaging means are provided to engate the switch in the second circuit to enable successive on-off-on-off switching, for actuating an alarm system from any one of a number of locations.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PULSE RELAY APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates generally to pulse relays, and more specifically relates to a pulse relay apparatus which relays a pulse to a second circuit responsive to activation or de-activation of a first circuit, pursuant to pulse actuation from any one of a number of locations.

Pulse relays of the type intended to generate an alarm signal upon external activation to cause relay switch movement, such as in operation wherein protected circuits connected to a first relay circuit and located at various positions in a protected area would generate a signal upon actuation at any one of the locations through a switch in an alarm signal circuit, commonly utilized on-off switching with switch actuation apparatus which was subject to resetting by vibration or peripheral switch movement.

In accordance with the foregoing, it may be regarded as among the objects of the present invention, to provide maximum biased positive and permanent switching to ensure reliable and dependable relay operation and to prevent peripheral movement of the switch.

It is a further object of the invention to provide positive and direct guidance of the actuating elements, and to enable adjustment of the relay sensitivity.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects, and others, as will become apparent in the course of the ensuing specification, are achieved in a pulse relay apparatus operable, as will be described below, so that maximum positive and direct switch operation is generated by the provision therein of actuating means and switching engaging means, thereby increasing the efficiency, reliability, and dependability of the pulse relay operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the appended drawings wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pulse relay apparatus, pursuant to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the pulse relay apparatus, in a first pulse activated embodiment thereof;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view thereof, at the end of the first pulse; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the pulse relay apparatus, in a second pulse activated embodiment thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the preferred mode of practicing the invention, the pulse relay apparatus 11 (FIGS. 1-3) for example, comprises a support frame 12, switch engaging means 13, actuating means 14, and a switch 15.

The support frame 12 comprises, for example, a front wall 20, a bottom wall 21 connected to the front wall 20, and a rear wall 22 connected to the-bottom wall 21.

The switch engaging means 13, for example (FIGS. 3-6), comprises a cam 30, and a cam shaft 31 mounted to the support frame front wall 20. The cam 30 includes a first notch 32 with side walls 33, 33' and a first interface therebetween, a second notch 34 with side walls 35, 35 and a second interface therebetween, and an interface edge 36 between the first notch side wall 33' and the second notch side wall 35, a first bearing edge 37 and a second bearing edge 38, and a limit cavity 39 with side walls 40, 40', and a limit post 41 mounted to the support frame front wall 20.

The actuating means 14, comprises, for example, (FIGS. 1 and 3) an armature bar 50, a coil core 51 mounted to the support frame bottom wall 21, and biasing means 52. The armature bar 50 includes a front portion 53, a top portion 54, and a rear portion 55. The front portion 53 includes a pivot pin 57 mounted thereto and an actuator head 56 mounted on the pivot pin 57, the actuator head 56 including side guidance surfaces 58, 58', a top bearing surface 59, and a bottom interface edge 60. The top portion 54 includes a bearing bar 61, connectors 62, 62', connecting the bearing bar 61 to the top portion 54, and pivot apertures 63, 63 (FIG. 2) engageable with the support frame rear wall 22. The rear portion 55 includes a rear post portion 64, mounted to the support frame rear wall 22. The biasing members 52 include a rear post 65 mounted to the rear wall 22, and a resilient member 66 extending between the rear post portion 64 and the rear post 65,'and further includes an adjustable overhanging limit post 67, and first circuit connections 68, 68'.

The switch 15 comprises, for example, (FIGS. 2-6) a switch body 70, a movable pin 71, a spring lever 72 which bears against the movable pin 71 at one end thereof, and second circuit connection posts 73, 73', 73".

In operation, for example, the pulse relay apparatus may be utilized to provide a pulse relay in an alarm circuit which may be actuated from various locations to actuate an alarm signal thereby. The apparatus generates changes of statepursuant to momentary two-pulse state-change switches, with corresponding positive and direct guidance of the switch actuating elements upon breach at any one of the protected circuit locations.

In a first rest embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 1-3), when all protected locations are initially nonactivated the bearing bar 61 bears against the actuator head top bearing surface 59 and the armature bar 50 is maintained in position by the biasing of the resilient member 66 which biases the rear post portion 64 downwardly and thereby biases the bearing bar 61 which is connected to the armature bar 50 by connectors 62, 62'. The upper limit of armature bar-actuator head movement is set by adjustment of the overhanging limit post 67 to the desired height, to thereby bear against the bearing bar 61. The coil core 51 is unenergized, and

I the cam 30 is in the rest position shown in FIG. 3,

with the second bearing edge 38 in contact with the switch spring lever 72, enabling the switch movable pin 71 to be fully extended in switch non-actuated position.

In a second set" embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 4 and 5), upon breach of the protected circuits at any location protected thereby, a first pulse is generated in the first circuit which energizes the coil core 51 through first circuit connections 68, 68'. This energization causes the armature bar 50 to be pulled downwardly to the coil core 51, which in turn causes downward movement of the actuator head 56 mounted thereto; the actuator head side guidance surface 58 moves into contact with the cam second notch side wall 36 until it contacts the second interface and bears thereagainst, to thereby move the cam 30 counterclockwise, until further movement is prevented by engagement of the limit post 41 with the side wall 40' of the cam limit cavity 39, thereby causing the first bearing edge 37 to engage the spring lever 72 which depresses the movable pin 71, causing a change of state in the switch and the alarm circuit connected to switch 15 through the second circuit connection posts 73, 73, 73", and the actuator head 56 then returns upon completion of the first pulse to the unenergized coil position shown in FIG. 5, with the cam maintained in the changed position, generated by the movement described above, as shown in FIG. 5.

In a third reset embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 6 and 3), upon transmittal of a second pulse generated by the de-activation of the protected circuits, the armature bar 50 is pulled downwardly to the coil core 51, which in turn causes downward movement of the actuator head 56 mounted thereto; the actuator head side guidance surface 58 moves into contact with cam first notch side wall 33' until it contacts the first interface and bears thereagainst to thereby move the cam 30 clockwise, until further movement is prevented by engagement of the limit post 41 with the side wall 40 of the cam limit cavity 39, thereby causing the second bearing edge 38 to engage the spring lever 72 to allow the movable pin 71 to be released, causing a change of state in the switch 15 and the alarm circuit connected to switch 15 through the second circuit connection posts 73, 73, 73", and the actuator head 56 then returns upon completion of the second pulse to the unenergized coil position shown in FIG. 3, with the cam maintained in the changed position, generated by the movement described above, as shown in FIG. 3.

It is thus seen that the provision of features described above enables successive on-off-on-off switching to turn an alarm system on or off from a number of locations by means of momentary pulse switches, with positive and permanent switch operation and guidance of actuating elements, and with optimum reliability and dependability, to thereby enable use thereof for alarm circuit operations with optimum reliability and dependability.

While the present invention has been particularly described in terms of specific embodiments thereof, ti will be evident in view of the present disclosure that numerous variations upon the invention are now enabled, without yet departing from the teaching thereof. Accordingly, the invention is to be broadly construed and limited only by the socpe and spirit of the claims now appended hereto.

I claim:

1. An improved apparatus for relaying successive pulses generated in a first circuit to control the switching of a second circuit, which comprises a support frame, a coil core, which is mounted to the support frame and which is connectable to the first circuit, an

armature, which includes a forward portion, means for pivotally mounting the armature in the support frame, which enable movement of the armature towards and away from the coil core, and a switch, which is connectable to the second circuit, which includes a pin, and a lever, which bears against the pin, wherein the improvement comprises:

means for positively actuating the switch in the second circuit, responsive to movement of the armature which is generated by energization of the coil core in response to pulse current in the first circuit, which comprises:

1. a cam, which includes positive guiding surfaces, positive bearing surfaces, which bear against the switch lever to control the operation of the switch in the second circuit, and positive keying surfaces,

2. means for retaining the cam in position, which are operable in conjunction with the cam positive keying surfaces to provide control of the switch in the second circuit until a further successive pulse is generated and relayed from the first circuit, and

3. means for controlling the movement of the cam,

which includes a. an actuator shaft,which is connected to and extends from the armature forward portion,

b. an actuator, which is rotatably joumalled on the actuator shaft, and which includes an upper surface, and

c. means for biasing the actuator, which are mounted to and extend above the armature, and which are in contact with the upper surface of the actuator to enable biased restricted arcuate movement of the actuator.

2. An improved relaying apparatus as recited in claim 1, which further comprises means for limiting the gap between the armature and actuator biasing means, and the coil core, to control the sensitivity thereof.

3. An improved relaying apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the cam retaining means comprises an extending member, which extends from and is connected to the support frame at a location adjacent to the cam positive keying surfaces.

4. An improved relaying apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the actuator shaft extends from the armature forward portion in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the armature forward portion.

5. An improved relaying apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the actuator biasing means comprises a resilient plate member.

6. An improved relaying apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which the limiting means comprises an overhanging member, which is mounted to the support frame,

and which extends over the actuator biasing means.

* i t i 

1. An improved apparatus for relaying successive pulses generated in a first circuit to control the switching of a second circuit, which comprises a support frame, a coil core, which is mounted to the support frame and which is connectable to the first circuit, an armature, which includes a forward portion, means for pivotally mounting the armature in the support frame, which enable movement of the armature towards and away from the coil core, and a switch, which is connectable to the second circuit, which includes a pin, and a lever, which bears against the pin, wherein the improvement comprises: means for positively actuating the switch in the second circuit, responsive to movement of the armature which is generated by energization of the coil core in response to pulse current in the first circuit, which comprises:
 1. a cam, which includes positive guiding surfaces, positive bearing surfaces, which bear against the switch lever to control the operation of the switch in the second circuit, and positive keying surfaces,
 2. means for retaining the cam in position, which are operable in conjunction with the cam positive keying surfaces to provide control of the switch in the second circuit until a further successive pulse is generated and relayed from the first circuit, and
 3. means for controlling the movement of the cam, which includes a. an actuator shaft,which is connected to and extends from the armature forward portion, b. an actuator, which is rotatably journalled on the actuator shaft, and which includes an upper surface, and c. means for biasing the actuator, which are mounted to and extend above the armature, and which are in contact with the upper surface of the actuator to enable biased restricted arcuAte movement of the actuator.
 2. means for retaining the cam in position, which are operable in conjunction with the cam positive keying surfaces to provide control of the switch in the second circuit until a further successive pulse is generated and relayed from the first circuit, and
 2. An improved relaying apparatus as recited in claim 1, which further comprises means for limiting the gap between the armature and actuator biasing means, and the coil core, to control the sensitivity thereof.
 3. An improved relaying apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the cam retaining means comprises an extending member, which extends from and is connected to the support frame at a location adjacent to the cam positive keying surfaces.
 3. means for controlling the movement of the cam, which includes a. an actuator shaft,which is connected to and extends from the armature forward portion, b. an actuator, which is rotatably journalled on the actuator shaft, and which includes an upper surface, and c. means for biasing the actuator, which are mounted to and extend above the armature, and which are in contact with the upper surface of the actuator to enable biased restricted arcuAte movement of the actuator.
 4. An improved relaying apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the actuator shaft extends from the armature forward portion in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the armature forward portion.
 5. An improved relaying apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which the actuator biasing means comprises a resilient plate member.
 6. An improved relaying apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which the limiting means comprises an overhanging member, which is mounted to the support frame, and which extends over the actuator biasing means. 